What is the minimum hourly rate for a midwife under the Nurses Award?

The minimum hourly rate for a registered nurse (including midwives) under the Nurses Award 2010 is set by the Fair Work Commission each year. You can find the current rates in the pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website. As of 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, but award rates for midwives are higher depending on classification and experience.

How do I convert an hourly midwife rate to an annual salary?

Multiply the hourly rate by 38 hours per week, then by 52 weeks. For example, $40 per hour × 38 × 52 = $79,040 per year before tax. This assumes no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of this amount.

Midwife Salary Australia: How to Calculate Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate

Q: Does the midwife salary include casual loading?

No, casual loading is an additional 25% on top of the base hourly rate for casual employees. If you are a casual midwife, your hourly rate should be the base award rate plus 25%. The annual salary calculation should use the base rate without loading, then add the loading separately if applicable.

A midwife's annual salary in Australia is typically calculated from an hourly award rate multiplied by 38 hours per week and 52 weeks, with super paid on top.

Introduction

If you are a midwife in Australia or considering the profession, understanding your potential earnings is essential. The phrase "midwife salary Australia" often brings up a range of figures from job ads and surveys, but the most reliable starting point is your minimum award rate set by the Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman. This article explains how to calculate your annual pay from an hourly rate, using a 38-hour week, a fortnight, and a 52-week year. We also cover tax, super, and casual loading so you can compare offers with confidence.

How to Calculate Midwife Salary Australia

The 38-Hour Week and Fortnight

Most full-time midwives are covered by the Nurses Award 2010 (MA000034). The standard full-time week is 38 hours. To get your annual gross pay, multiply your hourly rate × hours per week × 52. For example, if your hourly rate is $45 per hour, then $45 × 45 × 52 = $79,040 per year. This assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. If you are casual, you get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides page provides the exact rates for each classification.

Award Rates for Midwives

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates of pay, allowances, overtime, and penalty rates. The database includes classifications, wage-related allowances, expense-related allowances, and penalty rates. For midwives, the Nurses Award pay guide lists minimum rates for registered nurses and midwives. From 1 October 2026, changes to health professional employees in the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 have been updated, but midwives under the Nurses Award are still covered by the Nurses Award. The Fair Work Ombudsman's payment page says that pay guides have minimum pay rates for full-time, part-time and casual employees in an award.

National Minimum Wage and Casual Loading

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026: $26.44 per hour, $1004.9 per week for 38 hours, casual $33.05 per hour including 25% loading. If you are a casual midwife, your hourly rate should be the base award rate plus 25% loading on top. The timesheet is the home page. The reader types a base hourly rate. A checkbox adds 25% casual loading on top. Never tell the reader to type a rate that already includes casual loading. For a casual midwife, you should use the base rate without loading, then add the loading separately if applicable.

Tax and Super

Resident tax 2026–27: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that. Medicare levy generally 2%. Super guarantee 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, maximum contribution base $270830. Annual gross ≈ hourly × hours per week × 52. The formula: annual pay is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

Conclusion

When you see a midwife salary Australia figure, remember it is based on an hourly rate × 38 hours × 52 weeks. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides and the Fair Work Commission's database to find the correct award rate for your classification. Add super of 12% on top, and if you are casual, add 25% loading. For more details, see our pay guides and hourly conversion.